Thursday April 28, 2022
Scientific American —
A gigantic ocean current, which transports heat around the globe and helps regulate weather patterns throughout the North Atlantic, appears to be slowing down. In fact, recent research has found that it’s currently at its weakest point in the last 1,000 years.
The big question: Is climate change causing the slowdown? Or is it just a natural fluctuation?
For now, scientists say, it’s probably some of both.
A new study, published Monday in the journal Nature Climate Change, finds that the current is indeed slowing and that climate change is likely playing at least a small part. But the current’s behavior is still within the range of its own natural patterns.